BELCHERTOWN — A University of Massachusetts Amherst student denied assaulting a paramedic in a campus dormitory early Saturday morning, an action that police said prevented emergency personnel from caring for a woman who was unconscious and vomiting.
Jordan E. Ortiz, 20, of Marhsfield, pleaded not guilty in Eastern Hampshire District Court Monday morning to five charges stemming from the incident.
Ortiz was charged with assault and battery on an ambulance personnel, interfering with a firefighter, resisting arrest, malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct.
UMass Police and the Amherst Fire Department were called to McNamara Hall on Eastman Lane just before 1:30 a.m. for a report of an intoxicated female who was unconscious and vomiting.
Officers, who had remained in the hallway while paramedics tended to the woman, were called into the room after hearing yelling, according to court documents.
When police entered the dorm room, they saw Ortiz grasping a paramedic and pushing him, Officer Nathan Fisher wrote in the statement about the incident. It was later learned that during the struggle, Ortiz tore the paramedic’s vest.
In his statement, Fisher said officers told Ortiz to stop and that his actions were preventing the paramedics from caring for the unconscious woman on the floor.
After removing Ortiz from the room, Fisher wrote he guided Ortiz to the ground onto his stomach and told him to put his hands behind his back.
Ortiz refused, tensed his arms and pulled them underneath his body while yelling obscenities, according to the documents.
Additional officers arrived on scene and Ortiz was placed under arrest.
Ortiz was released on personal recognizance. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 12.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.